It's Thursday today. On Tuesday morning, before the sun was properly up, we were on our way to the railway station in Liege. We'd arrived in the dark, so didn't totally appreciate it, but it is very fine:




We needed to get to Brussels first (Brussels South, to be precise). Hundreds of people waiting on the platform. It's going to be bad, we thought... But no. These trains, double-deckers, are serious people-swallowers. The doors opened, and we dived right into a little four-seater cubby-hole (with luggage shelf). Another guy dived in after us, and the three of us were very comfortably contained all the way to the Belgian capital.

Then the Eurostar to London. A little delayed, but nothing to worry about.


We walked about 20 minutes to the hire-car place, and then we were off again.

It was easier than I expected to fight our way out of London. Through the crowded streets of the centre (the 20-mph speed limit is actually helpful, as it gives you more time to find your way), and then out onto the wider roads, where signs start to advertise The NORTH:



We had a stop for the usual things (toilet, coffee, and lots of button-pressing to locate Radio 2), and then another stop to shop (and tut-tut over British prices, which definitely seem higher than their continental equivalents). But we were in our Nether Heage accommodation (a converted barn) by about 1745, and drinking wine and eating Stilton just a little later:



The next morning, Wednesday, we could take stock of our surroundings. Which are lovely:






Today, Thursday, was our first chance to pace out the neighbourhood. Fabulous views on another frosty morning:


Up the hill is Heage (as opposed to Nether Heage):







We're still a little travel-lagged, I think. We've covered many miles in the last week, and there's always something extra-wearying about ending a journey, and changing gear ready for a new phase.

Still, it's very nice to be briefly back in Derbyshire. I'm glad we're not rushing straight off.